Cycling With One Leg Longer Than The Other

Someone. wrote:

I think that I have finally figured out the reason for some of my knee
problems while cycling and also the reason behind my chronic lower
back pain.

I think that I have one leg longer than the other! I can see this
pretty readily while seated on the bike My left heel goes noticeably
further down at the bottom of the pedal stroke than the right heel.
The saddle should be keeping my pelvis level which removes any tilt
from the picture so this should give a good relative idea of the
difference.

This also helps to explain my nearly chronic "facet" lower back pain
which occurs only on the left side like my pelvis is permanently
tilted while walking. I have had this pretty much continually for
about the past 10 years, since I was about 40. I pretty much manage it
by staying flexible which cycling and stretching seems to help.

Years ago I went to several doctors for my back problems. They could
find nothing wrong and prescribed the usual stretching and
strengthening exercises which didn't seem to help much if at all.

So I guess my question to the group is to solicit advice from others
who might have the same issue and ask for ways to make a positive
diagnosis and how to correct this for cycling and other activities.

Nobody can make a "positive diagnosis" of anything on the Internet, but
I do have some suggestions for dealing with your issue on the Web at:

http://sheldonbrown.com/cranks

Sheldon "Asymmetry" Brown
Santa Cruz, California
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